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Chapter 74
Zhang Qiquan's legs were broken, and the couple were bullied together, but Zhang's parents did not stand up to uphold justice, indicating their hearts had already leaned towards Fengjing.
Since this was the case, there was indeed nothing worth staying for in this place.
Zhang Qiquan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "I don't want your silver, I just want to know if Eldest Brother and Second Brother will take action again."
Thank goodness this filial man loved his wife more.
Chang Yan nodded slightly, looking towards Fang Heng, "Third Brother, take these cakes and say you got rich in the city and are giving Uncle Zhang money."
Ten taels of silver were enough to make Zhang Qiquan's two elder brothers willing to take action without hesitation. If he really got rich, who knew what else they would covet.
As soon as Chang Yan’s words fell, Xu Mo nodded slightly in approval of Fifth Young Master’s clever plan.
When they arrived in a carriage it had already attracted a lot of attention. Now Fang Heng was carrying the cakes out, chatting briefly with fellow villagers, subtly hinting that this time they were giving the Zhang family a lot of money, even the carriage was theirs.
The bait was cast.
Feeling the envious and jealous eyes of the villagers of Shili Pub Village, Fang Heng walked to the village entrance, then secretly circled back to the Zhang house.
He put down the cakes, found a corner and picked up a stick, closing his eyes to wait.
Jiang Sheng and her siblings hid in the secluded house with curtains drawn.
Zhang Qiquan lay on the bed, holding his breath, staring at the doorway without blinking.
After half a cup of tea.
The door was knocked as scheduled.
Liu Cui looked nervously at Fang Heng by the door, before slowly shuffling over.
As soon as the door bolt fell, the two men outside rushed in impatiently, "I heard someone came to give Third Brother money. It's not safe to keep it here, send it to our mother to keep it safe."
"Also, since Third Brother is injured and can't use the carriage, I'll use it first to take our mother to see a doctor in the county."
Liu Cui was so frightened she retreated several steps, stammering, "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, that... that was given by the children."
"What's yours is also Father and Mother’s, isn't it?" Zhang Eldest Brother took it for granted, "Third Brother hasn't been home for so many years, Father and Mother have always missed him very much. It’s only natural to show filial respect when he’s finally back."
"That's right, we've been fulfilling our filial duties to Father and Mother for so many years. It's normal for us to get a share too." Zhang Second Elder Brother looked around, hoping to see if there were any other good things hidden.
Liu Cui shook her head, and had not had time to speak before
Zhang Second Elder Brother suddenly reached out and pushed her, "Woman, don't try to mess up the relationship between us brothers again, don't talk nonsense!"
On the bed, Zhang Qiquan was already seeing red. He dragged his broken leg trying to get up, but unexpectedly crashed into the door frame instead.
"Dear!" Liu Cui screamed and rushed over.
The two Zhang brothers remained indifferent where they stood, only asking, "What exactly did the boy bring as gifts?"
"You don't even have children of your own. What's the use of keeping all these nice things for the future?"
Trading barb for barb, utterly heartless.
And they dared to act this way only because they were certain Zhang Qiquan was childless and they could take everything when the family line died out.
"Dear..." Liu Cui wailed loudly, crying her eyes out.
Xu Mo patted Wen Zhiyun.
Only then did quick-witted Fourth Young Master come to his senses. He walked out from the side room to take Zhang Qiquan's pulse, raise his eyelids, and examine his chest.
"Who's that? There are other people?" The Zhang brothers were shocked.
Fang Heng closed the door behind him with the stick in his arms, "Not only are there people, but more than one."
With a series of bangs, smashes and cracks, two ghastly wails rose from the Zhang house courtyard.
Soon the door opened and the two were kicked out, then locked outside.
Only then did the malicious anger in Fang Heng's heart dissipate.
After Wen Zhiyun managed to resuscitate the anger-stricken Zhang Qiquan, the Jiang siblings had all returned to the yard.
"Uncle Zhang, you lose."
Zhang Qiquan smiled bitterly as he opened his eyes, "I've lost, lost thoroughly. There's no place for us here anymore. Cui'er, I'll take you away, we'll go far, far away."
"Dear, wherever you say, I'll go." Liu Cui held him crying loudly, "Anywhere is fine as long as you're with me."
Who would be willing to leave their home and abandon their village well if they had any other choice?
Zhang Qiquan was beyond caring about dignity as he pressed his forehead to his wife's, eyes swelling red.
Chang Yan glanced at Zheng Ruqian and blinked lightly.
Zheng Ruqian was completely confused.
Jiang Sheng kicked him from behind, "Go on."
So Second Elder Brother was forced to stumble awkwardly in front of the sobbing couple. Seeing Zhang Qiquan's family look up in shock, he remembered the purpose of this trip to Shili Pub village and embarrassingly spoke up, "Well, don't go too far away, I plan to open a workshop in Anshui County. How about coming to help me out?"
No one knew what struggles Zhang Qiquan went through, but he nodded heavily in the end.
Liu Cui was happy. She packed up their household items, "I've only heard of Anshui County before, never been there!"
When they finished packing up the ten taels of silver.
Zhang Qiquan held his wife's hand, "Cui'er, we won't be coming back here anymore."
Liu Cui nodded, but had a bad premonition in her heart.
"Let's leave this money for Father and Mother." Zhang Qiquan said heavily, "Consider it all the filial piety I can give for the second half of my life."
Liu Cui's eyes brimmed with tears.
Even Jiang Sheng, tugging anxiously at Xu Mo's sleeve, felt it was too cruel to watch.
But Liu Cui bit her lip and agreed in the end.
After getting everything in order, Liu Cui personally delivered the ten taels of silver to Zhang Qiquan's parents. The couple sat on the shafts of the carriage and slowly left.
Some villagers saw them off, chasing and asking, "Third Zhang, you got rich huh, going to live in town? Or going to the county?"
Zhang Qiquan held Liu Cui silently.
In fact, they didn't have a penny to their name.
But the villagers spread the word, and when it reached Zhang Qiquan's parents, it became their youngest son had made it big and left home with his daughter-in-law.
"That unfilial son, just leaving us these ten taels of silver, and running off with a courtesan!" Zhang's father stamped his feet.
"It was a waste raising him, should've raised a dog instead." Zhang's mother wiped away tears.
Zhang's two elder brothers were even more furious, "Damn bastard, don't let me catch you, I'll beat you every time I see you!"
Fortunately the couple didn't hear any of this.
Carrying simple bundles, they huddled together on the carriage shafts, watching Shili Pub village fade from clear to blurry, watching their familiar hometown disappear from sight.
"It's hard huh, I felt the same way back then." Little Jiang Sheng leaned on one hand, speaking with an ethereal tone, "It gets better with time."
Liu Cui came back to herself and saw her acting mature. She couldn't help stroking the girl's little head.
Zheng Ruqian stuck his head out, "Auntie, feels nice right, my sister's head is the nicest to rub, I wish I could rub it every day."
Then he reached out and ruffled it messily, undoing Jiang Sheng's little buns.
She had painstakingly styled her hair this morning!
Jiang Sheng glared at him angrily. Both hands clumsily groped at her head, trying to smooth the escaped strands back into place. But she was small, her hands still too short. She fussed for a long time but couldn't fix it properly.
Seeing this, Liu Cui's heart softened. She leaned over to help her, "Let me."